The story dates back to mid 2000s when Shankar’s Anniyan hit the big screens amidst high expectations. Starring Vikram in the lead role, it went on become a major commercial success, and a highly-celebrated work of Tamil cinema.
Touted on a lavish budget of ₹26 crore, Anniyan held the record as the most expensive Indian film ever made during its time. An ambitious project from writer-director Shankar Shanmugam, it was praised for its novel theme, special effects, technical finesse, and the career-defining performance of ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram.
Pioneering Themes
Anniyan is ofte cited as one of the earliest Indian films that dealt with mental health disorders, and perhaps the only mainstream work to explore Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) in detail. It features Vikram as an advocate, a fashion model, and an infamous vigilante who murders corrupt individuals post sunset.
Sadha, who plays the role of Nandini, Vikram’s love interest, was actually not the first choice of the makers. Yes, it was indeed Aishwarya Rai, who was first approached with the script but remained unavailable due to prior film commitments. Prakash plays a key supporting role, and is till date the only Shankar-directorial he has performed in. Vivek brings in some good laughter to this otherwise serious social commentary.
The OG Pan-Indian Film
What makes Anniyan even more memorable is cross-cultural success; a Telugu-dubbed version of the film, titled Aparichitudu, was released to equally rave reviews from audiences and had had an excellent run at the ticket window. Two decades down the line, it is noted for its viewership in the Hindi belt.
All in all, Anniyan remains a testament to Shankar’s unparalleled vision, Vikram’s three-shaded performance, and Harris Jayaraj’s soulful music. A cult phenomenon of its era, it holds a special place in the folklore of Tamil cinema.